Melton MMI N3934
4 October 1990 · Death Valley, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 October 1990 at about 20:30 local time, a Melton MMI registered N3934, operated by Norval A. Ferguson, was involved in an accident near Death Valley, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Death Valley, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.6008, -116.8302
- Aircraft
- Melton MMI
- Registration
- N3934
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Norval A. Ferguson
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Roseburg → Furnace Creek
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91DVW01
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INACCURATE CALCULATION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HIS DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITH A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DIRT EMBANKMENT AFTER MAKING AN EMERENCY LANDING IN THE DESERT. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT FUEL CAPACITY IS 14 GALLONS AND SUBSEQUENT TO TAKEOFF THE DIRECT READING FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR DID NOT INDICATE PROPERLY. TOWARD THE END OF THE FLIGHT THE GAUGE STARTED DECREASING RAPIDLY AND WAS INACCURATE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRBORNE FOR OVER FOUR HOURS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 1990 | Cessna 180 | Soledad, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1990 | Cessna 150 | Riverside, California, United States | PAR Flight | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1990 | Piper PA46 | Paso Robles, California, United States | Piper Aircraft Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1990 | Cessna 182M | Bakersfield, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1990 | Piper J-3 | Creston, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1990 | Bell 47G4 | Merced, California, United States | John W. Myers | Serious injuries | - |